Background: Understanding potential risks of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens from the booming poultry sector is a crucial public health concern. Campylobacter spp. are among the most important zoonotic pathogens associated with MDR infections in poultry and human. This study systematically examined potential risks and associated socio-environmental factors of MDR Campylobacter spp. in poultry farms and live bird markets (LBMs) of Bangladesh. Methods: Microbial culture and PCR-based methods were applied to examine the occurrence and MDR patterns of Campylobacter spp. in potential sources (n = 224) at 7 hatcheries, 9 broiler farms and 4 LBMs in three sub-districts. Antimicrobial residues in broiler meat and liver samples (n = 50) were detected by advanced chromatographic techniques. A questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was conducted on socio-environmental factors. Results: Overall, 32% (71/ 224) samples were found contaminated with Campylobacter spp. In poultry farms, Campylobacter spp. was primarily found in cloacal swab (21/49, 43%), followed by drinking water (8/24, 33%), and meat (8/28, 29%) samples of broilers. Remarkably, at LBMs, Campylobacter spp. was detected in higher prevalence (p < 0.05) in broiler meat (14/26, 54%), which could be related (p < 0.01) to bacterial contamination of drinking water (11/21, 52%) and floor (9/21, 43%). Campylobacter isolates, one from each of 71 positive samples, were differentiated into Campylobacter jejuni (66%) and Campylobacter coli (34%). Alarmingly, 49 and 42% strains of C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively, were observed as MDR, i.e., resistant to three or more antimicrobials, including, tetracycline, amoxicillin, streptomycin, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides. Residual antimicrobials (oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin) were detected in majority of broiler liver (79%) and meat (62%) samples, among which 33 and 19%, respectively, had concentration above acceptable limit. Inadequate personal and environmental hygiene, unscrupulously use of antimicrobials, improper waste disposal, and lack of health surveillance were distinguishable risk factors, with local diversity and compound influences on MDR pathogens.Conclusion: Potential contamination sources and anthropogenic factors associated with the alarming occurrence of MDR Campylobacter, noted in this study, would aid in developing interventions to minimize the increasing risks of poultry-associated MDR pathogens under 'One Health' banner that includes poultry, human and environment perspectives.

Background: Understanding potential risks of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens from the booming poultry sector is a crucial public health concern. Campylobacter spp. are among the most important zoonotic pathogens associated with MDR infections in poultry and human. This study systematically examined potential risks and associated socio-environmental factors of MDR Campylobacter spp. in poultry farms and live bird markets (LBMs) of Bangladesh. Methods: Microbial culture and PCR-based methods were applied to examine the occurrence and MDR patterns of Campylobacter spp. in potential sources (n = 224) at 7 hatcheries, 9 broiler farms and 4 LBMs in three sub-districts. Antimicrobial residues in broiler meat and liver samples (n = 50) were detected by advanced chromatographic techniques. A questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was conducted on socio-environmental factors. Results: Overall, 32% (71/ 224) samples were found contaminated with Campylobacter spp. In poultry farms, Campylobacter spp. was primarily found in cloacal swab (21/49, 43%), followed by drinking water (8/24, 33%), and meat (8/28, 29%) samples of broilers. Remarkably, at LBMs, Campylobacter spp. was detected in higher prevalence (p <0.05) in broiler meat (14/26, 54%), which could be related (p <0.01) to bacterial contamination of drinking water (11/21, 52%) and floor (9/21, 43%). Campylobacter isolates, one from each of 71 positive samples, were differentiated into Campylobacter jejuni (66%) and Campylobacter coli (34%). Alarmingly, 49% and 42% strains of C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively, were observed as MDR, i.e., resistant to three or more antimicrobials, including, tetracycline, amoxicillin, streptomycin, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides. Residual antimicrobials (oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin) were detected in majority of broiler liver (79%) and meat (62%) samples, among which 33% and 19%, respectively, had concentration above acceptable limit. Inadequate personal and environmental hygiene, unscrupulously use of antimicrobials, improper waste disposal, and lack of health surveillance were distinguishable risk factors, with local diversity and compound influences on MDR pathogens. Conclusion: Potential contamination sources and anthropogenic factors associated with the alarming occurrence of MDR Campylobacter, noted in this study, would aid in developing interventions to minimize the increasing risks of poultry-associated MDR pathogens under ‘One Health’ banner that includes poultry, human and environment perspectives.

This study was aimed for isolation, identification and characterization of Campylobacter species from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) dairy farm during the period of January to May, 2016. A total of 80 samples (faecal samples of calves, heifers and cows; milk samples of cows) were collected from Bangladesh Agricultural University dairy farm for isolation and identification of Campylobacter species by using cultural, biochemical and molecular methods. Moreover, the isolated Campylobacter species were subjected for antimicrobial susceptibility test. Campylobacter like organisms were presumptively identified in 20 samples. Isolates were biochemically positive to catalase and oxidase tests and in hippurate hydrolysis test some of the isolates (n=6) shown negative that indicated the isolates were C. coli and some of the test isolates (n=14) shown positive that indicated the isolates were C. jejuni. Campylobacter specific 16S rRNA genes were amplified from the isolates. Out of 20 isolated Campylobacter 14 (17.5%) were detected as C. jejuni and the rest 6 (7.5%) were detected as C. coli by cdtC gene based multiplex PCR assay. C. jejuni were resistant to amoxicillin, erythromycin, azithromycin and susceptible to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and streptomycin. Furthermore, C. coli were resistant to amoxicillin and erythromycin and susceptible to gentamycin, ciproflaxacin. Out of 20 Campylobacter isolates, 57.14% C. jejuni and 33.33% C. coli were identified as multidrug resistant. To the best of our knowledge, this study has brought the first report on the occurrence of Campylobacter species with their antibiogram profiles in any dairy farm of Bangladesh.

Background: This study systematically examined potential risks and associated socio-environmental factors of MDR Campylobacter spp. in poultry farms and live bird markets (LBMs) of Bangladesh. Methods: Microbial culture and PCR-based methods were applied to examine the occurrence and MDR patterns of Campylobacter spp. at hatcheries (n = 33), broiler farms (n = 122) and LBMs (n = 69). Antimicrobial residues in broiler meat and liver samples (n = 50) were detected by advanced chromatographic techniques. A questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was conducted on socio-environmental factors. Results: In poultry farms, Campylobacter spp. was primarily found in cloacal swab (21/49, 43%), followed by drinking water (8/24, 33%), and meat (8/28, 29%) samples of broilers. Remarkably, in live bird markets, Campylobacter spp. was detected in higher prevalence in broiler meat (14/26, 54%), which could have an association with bacterial contamination in drinking water sources (11/21, 52%) and floor (9/21, 43%). Representative isolates (n = 71) were differentiated into two species: Campylobacter jejuni (66%) and Campylobacter coli (34%). Majority of C. jejuni (33/47, 70%) and C. coli (14/24, 58%) strains were observed to be MDR, predominantly showing resistance to amoxycilin, tetracycline and erythromycin, and additionally to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, streptomycin, and azithromycin. Residual antimicrobials, including oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin, were detected in majority of broiler liver (79%) and meat (62%) samples. Alarmingly, 33% and 19% of the liver and meat samples, respectively, contained residual antimicrobial concentration above acceptable limit. Inadequate personal and environmental hygiene, unscrupulously use of antimicrobials, improper waste disposal, and lack of health surveillance and quarantine facilities of diseased birds were distinguishable anthropogenic risk factors, with local diversity and compound influences on MDR pathogens. Conclusion: The observed large-scale occurrence of MDR C. jejuni and C. coli and residual antimicrobials in poultry value chain reflects an alarming situation for public health in Bangladesh. Potential contamination sources of MDR Campylobacter and the combined influences of diverse socio-environmental risk factors, noted in this study, would aid in developing interventions to minimize the increasing risks of poultry-associated MDR pathogens under ‘One Health’ banner that includes poultry, human and environment perspectives.

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize Salmonella species isolated from poultry value chains of Gazipur and Tangail districts of Bangladesh during the period of October 2015 to May 2016. For this purpose a total of 153 samples (35 chick meconium, 49 cloacal swab, 30 poultry carcass, 14 feed, 16 water, 7 transport swab, 2 floor swab) were collected and were subjected to various cultural, biochemical techniques and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, the isolated Salmonella species were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Among the samples, 23.53% (n=36) were found to be associated with Salmonella species. The Salmonella species were identified by observing black centered colonies on XLD agar, positive to MR test and negative to VP and Indole test. All isolates of Salmonella species were positive to 16s rRNA gene based PCR (574 bp). Serogrouping of Salmonella species were performed by slide agglutination test using commercial Salmonella specific polyvalent O (A-I) antisera, Salmonella O group B (Factor O: 4, 5, 27) antisera and Salmonella O group D (Factor O: 9, 46) antisera. Among the 36 isolates, 30.56% (n=11) belonged to serogroup B and rest of the isolates 69.44% (n=25) to serogroup D. The most prevalent serogroup identified in this study was serogroup D. The isolated Salmonella species were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing with the aid of disk diffusion method using 8 antimicrobial agents. All isolates of Salmonella species were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, streptomycin and gentamicin. Out of 36 isolates 100% Salmonella species were resistant to erythromycin and tetracycline. The findings of this study revealed the presence of multidrug resistant Salmonella species in poultry value chains of Gazipur and Tangail districts of Bangladesh that posseses a serious threat to public and poultry health. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the prevalence, serogrouping and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella species from poultry value chains of selected districts in Bangladesh.